infor on gorillas.

[Guest guest]

SAM seeks more info on Taiping Zoo’s gorillas

 

Kevin Tan

8:30pm Tue Jun 4th, 2002

 

Environmental group Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) wants answers from the

Malaysian and Nigerian authorities on the controversial acquisition of four

rare baby gorillas by the Taiping Zoo in January.

 

According to a SAM official who declined to be named, letters of inquiry

were sent to the Malaysian and Nigerian authorities early last month.

 

“So far, there is no response from both the Malaysian and Nigerian

governments,” she told malaysiakini today.

 

The letters were addressed to Malaysia’s Minister of Science, Technology and

Environment Law Hien Ding, Nigerian Minister of Environment Al Haji Mohammed

Kabir Said and the Nigerian High Commissioner to Malaysia Ibrahim Yarima

Abdullahi.

 

In his letter to Mohammed Kabir, SAM president SM Mohd Idris requested for a

detailed investigation on the Nigerian side into those responsible for

bringing the gorillas to Malaysia.

 

According to him, SAM and the International Primate Protection League

(IPPL), which is involved in the protection of such primates worldwide are

concerned that the endangered animals could have been obtained illegally.

 

 

He said the gorillas could be illegally caught in Cameroon and smuggled into

neighbouring Nigeria.

 

“Following a tip-off that four gorillas had appeared at Taiping Zoo, IPPL

began an investigation and learnt that a notorious Nigerian animal dealer

might be involved,” he said.

 

It was reported that IPPL had claimed that a Nigerian individual had offered

the gorillas to the Taiping Zoo for a price of RM6 million (US$1.6 million).

 

Exchange programme

 

Four rare western lowland gorillas were flown from the Nigerian capital of

Lagos to Malaysia between Jan18 and 20 this year.

 

Under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES),

trade in highly endangered animals such as wild-born gorillas is outlawed.

Both Malaysia and Nigeria are signatories to this convention.

 

However, Taiping Zoo director Dr Kevin Lazarus explained that the transfer

of four baby gorillas was part of an exchange programme.

 

“It’s not a trade but an exchange. We have all the proper documentation,” he

said when contacted by malaysiakini in April.

 

Lazarus added that Malaysia will send some of its animals such as Malayan

tigers and Sun bears, among others, to Nigeria in return.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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